Workshops:
I. Personas
The objective of this workshop is to come to know the persons who, in the East and the West, aspired to a dialog and a wish to bond these, normally opposite sides. These persons can be found in the fields of history, art, science or were also „average people“. Discussions are possible regarding the topic of whom those personalities were and how they influenced on the situation in the world today.
II. Scientific contributions
Science has developed on the East and the West at the same time – each in it’s own way – and soon became a kind of currency used in trade between the two sides. How much did the Eastern science help the West and vice versa, is the question we will try to find the answer to.
III. What is East, and what is West?
This workshop is planned to try to come to the conclusion, throughtout discussion, what East and West really are. The question is whether the meaning of „East“ and „West“ today is the same as it was throughout the history. What makes a specific area a part of the Eastern or Western culture, is it merely a geographical division or is there a mental border and what are it’s effects? The border between East and West had changed through the centuries, and the question if there is something between them remains open.
IV. Interreligious contacts throughout history
Contacts between different religions of the East and West had existed from the earliest times. Through this workshop, we will observe the history of religious interaction between Eastern and Western regions. Which religions are in fact Eastern and which Western and what defines that very religion? We want to know which elements did some religions take from one another, how did the conflicts emerge, what makes them the same, and how are they different.
V. Popular culture in the twentieth century
Popular art of the twentieth century in the East and West have different patterns, and was, as a result, differently manifested. The question remains how the art of two sides influenced one another and how their development effected the growth of modern thinking. The breach of the Western culture to the East was potentiated during the Cold War to weaken the Eastern strength. However, the Eastern resistance creates a very own popular culture which slowly started to affect the West. The differences and similarities of the pop culture of the East and West are one of the subjects.
VI. The art
The art is a field in which the East and West had influenced one another the most, due to the penetration of different styles from one side to another, through the visual art, music, sculptures and construction. As the East and West had created their own art styles through history,these styles were enriched by the assumption of different elements. But, what styles are a creation of the Eastern circle or the Western one? What makes them different and what are the similarities?
VII. Taboos
Both in the East and the West, taboos are one of the basic components of society. What is an Eastern taboo? What is a Western one? Do they have any points of contact, are they the same, and if there are differences, which are they? Throughout this workshop we will discuss taboos, and we will be including questions regarding sexuality, crime, secret history, status of women in the society, attitude towards minorities and people of the different race or religion.
VIII. Mythical Orient, mental experience of the East
The mental experience of the East in the art and mentality of Westerners had marked the entire eighteenth and nineteenth century. The Western world was obsessed with the Orient, which is directly shown in the literary styles of the romanticism. Today, through the New Age movements, a new turn to the Eastern culture, art and religion is being born. How did the Western fascination with the oriental world change through history, how did the East effect the Western thought, both in literature and in philosophy?
IX. Sport and games throughout history
Sport confrontations of the East and West were present through the entire history, though much more important after the mass popularization and globalisation of sport. The institution responsible for this spread are the Olympic games. We will be exploring what were the conflicts throughout the games, were sport contests used as political statements, as a weapon of ideology in political confrontations. How did the games and sport develop in the East and the West, are there any contacts and assumption of elements? How is the perception of sport in the East and West?
X. Military and political confrontations between East and West
There have been political confrontations through the entire history due to the differences that extend between East and West. What is the reason for that, and were the differences really great enough to start a war over? Through this workshop we will follow the history of military and political confrontations between East and West. Also, we will try to reach the conclusion regarding the reasons these confrontations were based on, and if the reasons changed during different periods of time.
XI. Trade
Trade between East and West throughout history was almost the only link between the two great parts of the world. Through neutral middlemen, the exchange of goods and services came to be. This situation prevented the two parts to grow further apart. The connection based on trade was originated on the idea that both East and West had something to offer to one another, and that trade was always payable. Trade is one of the most important links between East and West.
XII. Stereotypes and mentalities
The entire history of confrontation and cooperation between East and West was marked by, and influenced on by different mentalities which were created by one and the other side to explain the differences between the two worlds easier. What are the stereotypes which Westerners have against the East, and vice versa? Stereotypes regularly induced clashes, as much due to lack of understanding between the sides as well as the lack of desire to understand the other side.
